swell

[ swel ]

verb (used without object)

, swelled, swol·len or swelled, swell·ing.

1. to grow in bulk, as by the absorption of moisture or the processes of growth.

   Synonyms: expand, distend

   Antonyms: contract

2. Pathology. to increase abnormally in size, as by inflation, distention, accumulation of fluids, or the like:

   Her ankles swelled from standing.

3. to rise in waves, as the sea.
4. to well up, as a spring or as tears.
5. to bulge out, as a sail or the middle of a cask.

   Synonyms: protrude

6. to grow in amount, degree, force, etc.
7. to increase gradually in volume or intensity, as sound:

   The music swelled.

8. to arise and grow within one, as a feeling or emotion.
9. to become puffed up with pride.

verb (used with object)

, swelled, swol·len or swelled, swell·ing.

1. to cause to grow in bulk.

   Synonyms: expand, inflate

2. to cause to increase gradually in loudness:

   to swell a musical tone.

3. to cause (a thing) to bulge out or be protuberant.
4. to increase in amount, degree, force, etc.

   Antonyms: diminish, decrease

5. to affect with a strong, expansive emotion.
6. to puff up with pride.

noun

1. the act of swelling or the condition of being swollen.
2. inflation or distention.

   Synonyms: swelling

3. a protuberant part.

   Synonyms: bulge

4. a wave, especially when long and unbroken, or a series of such waves.

   Synonyms: billow

5. a gradually rising elevation of the land.
6. an increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
7. a gradual increase in loudness of sound.
8. Music.
   1. a gradual increase (crescendo) followed by a gradual decrease (diminuendo) in loudness or force of musical sound.
   2. the sign (< >) for indicating this.
   3. a device, as in an organ, by which the loudness of tones may be varied.
9. a swelling of emotion within one.
10. Slang.
    1. a fashionably dressed person; dandy.
    2. a socially prominent person.

adjective

, Informal.

1. (of things) stylish; elegant:

   a swell hotel.

2. (of persons) fashionably dressed or socially prominent.

   Synonyms: grand

3. first-rate; fine:

   a swell party.

   Synonyms: grand

swell

/ swɛl /

verb

1. See contract
   to grow or cause to grow in size, esp as a result of internal pressure Compare contract contract
2. to expand or cause to expand at a particular point or above the surrounding level; protrude
3. to grow or cause to grow in size, amount, intensity, or degree

   the party is swelling with new recruits

4. to puff or be puffed up with pride or another emotion
5. intr (of seas or lakes) to rise in waves
6. intr to well up or overflow
7. tr to make (a musical phrase) increase gradually in volume and then diminish

noun

1. 1. the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
   2. a succession of waves or a single large wave
2. a swelling or being swollen; expansion
3. an increase in quantity or degree; inflation
4. a bulge; protuberance
5. a gentle hill
6. informal.
   a person very fashionably dressed
7. informal.
   a man of high social or political standing
8. music a crescendo followed by an immediate diminuendo
9. Also calledswell organ music
   1. a set of pipes on an organ housed in a box ( swell box ) fitted with a shutter operated by a pedal, which can be opened or closed to control the volume
   2. the manual on an organ controlling this Compare choir great

adjective

1. informal.
   stylish or grand
2. slang.
   excellent; first-class

Other Words From

• re·swell verb reswelled reswelled or reswollen reswelling
• under·swell verb (used without object) underswelled underswelled or underswollen underswelling
• under·swell noun
• un·swelled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swell¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English swellen (verb), Old English swellan; cognate with Dutch zwellen, German schwellen, Old Norse svella; akin to Gothic ufswalleins “pride”

Word History and Origins

Origin of swell¹

Old English swellan; related to Old Norse svella, Old Frisian swella, German schwellen

Example Sentences

Some side effects are expected and manageable, such as redness or swelling at the site of the injection, fever, aching muscles or joints, headaches or fatigue.

From Science News

Year-round breaks, like the perfect swells at Praia de Santa Bárbara, attract surfers looking to avoid mainland Portugal’s crowds.

From Outside Online

This could happen with a vaccine, leading to a swell of refusal among his political opponents.

From Vox

In a several years the entire network is expected to swell to 12,000 satellites, with a possible expansion to 42,000.

From MIT Technology Review

If there’s a big swell, the dramatic ending of The Firebird, you know, you’re right in the middle of it.

From Quanta Magazine

It stands to reason the controversy will swell after the release.

From The Daily Beast

But when I see these sorts of lies in Iranian media, my eyes swell up with tears and I start shaking.

From The Daily Beast

I kept holding out hope that he would say, ‘You know, this is pretty swell here and the work is fulfilling.’

From The Daily Beast

Internal organs like the spleen swell up and become as hard as sausages.

From The Daily Beast

“It would be a swell joke on tout-le-monde if you & Fife & I spent the summer at Juan-les-Pins,” she wrote.

From The Daily Beast

Not only did he provide sub-octave and super-octave couplers freely, but he even added a Swell Sub-quint to Great coupler!

From Project Gutenberg

It is not exactly so, but is still very different to the gradual swell on the other Cremona instruments.

From Project Gutenberg

The introduction of the balanced Swell pedal (Walcker, 1863) has greatly increased the tonal resources of the organ.

From Project Gutenberg

The position of the swell shutters is brought under the control of the organist's fingers as well as his feet.

From Project Gutenberg

To this general swell pedal (and its corresponding indicator key) any or all of the other swell pedals may be coupled at will.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accumulate
• add to
• balloon
• bloat
• bulge
• enlarge
• expand
• fatten
• grow
• increase
• mount
• rise
• surge